A queue had already started forming before the doors were opened, at 9:30am on Saturday morning (14 October 2023). Half an hour later, the earlier stillness of Expo Halls 4B and 5 was broken as visitors poured in, keen on getting up close with the latest cars to hit the Singapore market, as well as to seek out the best in deals and accessories.
The Car Expo has officially taken, well, the Singapore Expo by storm, as it kicks into full swing over this weekend.
The massive coming-together of multiple names and brands in the East marks the second event of its kind for the year, following in the footsteps of Cars@Expo in April earlier this year. Among the 30 over exhibitors present this weekend are 19 new car brands from the country's largest authorised dealers, seven pre-owned car dealers, and nine accessory-retailers.
While a large number of cars that one will find here are familiar, it's worth noting that the period between April and now has also seen quite a few new car launches - which one will be able to get up close with at The Car Expo.
Going in alphabetical order, BYD's booth now has two very different occupants to look forward to, including the Category A COE-eligible Dolphin, as well as its most powerful car launched in Singapore yet: The Seal. BYD is running specials worth up to $9,000 at the event, consisting of cash discounts, free upgrades and ownership privileges.
Lexus is also letting its first bespoke electric model, the RZ, take centrestage at its booth. Lexus Singapore has been running a '10 Electrifying Deals' campaign over the past week that is continuing into the weekend; highlights include a 10-year hybrid battery warranty, five-year unlimited warranty, and comprehensive aftersales car packages worth up to $10,000, among others.
Meanwhile, Cycle & Carriage is letting customers experience the two new all-electric contenders it’s brought to our shores over the past few months. Flanking one end of its booth is the Maxus MIFA 9, currently still one of the few full-fledged electric MPVs available in Singapore. On top of an $8,000 Expo Discount, Maxus Singapore is also extending a $2,000 insurance rebate, and a free iPhone 15 Pro to buyers of the car.
On the other end, contrarily, is a vastly different take on emissions-free motoring: The cutesy Ora Good Cat. Amidst today's sky-high COE prices, the Good Cat is already one of the most affordable cars one can purchase (that's taking combustion-powered cars into account too), and at the Car Expo, the adorable electric hatch will be going at an even more tempting special price of $163,999, inclusive of COE.
Meanwhile, the mild hybrid S-Cross, previously only on preview at the Suzuki booth, now also comes with a proper price tag standing on its roof. Apart from receiving petrol cards (worth $1,500), shopping vouchers and NTUC gift vouchers, Suzuki Singapore is also offering buyers the chance to win a FurKid Retreat at Sofitel Singapore Resort and Spa with breakfast and dinner for two (worth $1,600).
At the Volkswagen booth, one will also find more Category A-friendly variants of the Golf than before - including the Life Plus, and more athletic R-Line. (Only the Life was available at the time of Cars@Expo). Until 15 October 2023, every Volkswagen purchased comes bundled three years of complimentary servicing, a five-year warranty, and roadside assistance service. (These benefits apply for sister-brand Skoda too, which is additionally offering a two-year road tax waiver, $1,000 worth of petrol vouchers and a two-year road tax waiver.)
On the note of new(er) cars, one of the first ones that is likely to catch your attention as you walk through the doors of Expo Hall 5 is the luminous Toyota Vellfire Hybrid. Toyota Singapore is running an '8 Amazing Reasons to get a Toyota' campaign for The Car Expo, which includes trade-in rebates, a 10-year servicing and one-year Toyota Body Fix, petrol gift cards, and instant discounts, among others.
Other noteworthy names include Germany's Big Three, with BMW offering guaranteed COEs with all purchases made over the weekend, and Audi extending savings of up to $20,000 across the entire range to customers. Mercedes-Benz Singapore, meanwhile, says that is customers stand to enjoy savings of up to $70,000 at the event. Highlights at its booth include the facelifted Cat A CLA-Coupe - which only recently went on sale in Singapore - and the all-electric, seven-seater EQB SUV.
On the more 'mass market' end, Citroen, Honda and Kia have all also pulled out attractive deals for their cars. But perhaps surprisingly, even Mitsuoka has decided to make an appearance this time. It's brought out the quirky Viewt hatch, and retro-inspired Rock Star coupe for display at its booth.
Finally, electrification, naturally, is in full force here at the Show. Mazda has the MX-30; MG has the 4 EV, 5 EV, and ZS EV at its booth (the latter has been shifted from Cat B to Cat A over the past few months); while Peugeot is also giving its e-2008 the spotlight here.
With the Show's accessories retailers, visitors can also look forward to essential items such as tyres, rims, and car grooming products in the same space. As mentioned previously, SPC is one of the key names within this group, and is offering up to $1,000 worth of SPC cash vouchers for buyers of brand new or pre-owned cars.
Worth considering is that even if car or accessory buying is not on your list, the presence of pre-owned car dealers at any event always means the possibility of getting up close with some special machines too. Among the cars Sgcarmart spotted at the event were a McLaren 720S Coupe, Ferrari 488 Spider, and a MINI John Cooper Works GP.
Quite coincidentally, the Show arrives just one day after the LTA announced a COE quota increase for the next period, between November 2023 and January 2024. Among the overall bump, Cat A is set to benefit the most significantly, with an additional 822 certificates compared to the current period.
Day One is almost over, but if you're heading down tomorrow, you'll be excited to know that the first 1,000 visitors each day get to walk home with a limited edition eco-friendly foldable tote bag.
The Car Expo is now up and running at Expo Halls 4B and 5. Admission is free, and doors open from 10:00am to 8:00pm daily.
